SERENE: South-South Exchange of Research Education Network Experience
SERENE (South-South Exchange of Research Education Network Experience) is a programme that involves exchange of information between South Asian countries and other countries. Information exchange is through Video-conferences, on-line discussions and face-to-face interactions.
SERENE is aimed at helping Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Afghanistan establish their Research and Education Networks. The exchange develops experiences from fellow Asian countries of Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Pakistan with experts from worldwide.
The programme is an action-learning program of virtual dialogues, visits and a workshop for ministry and university management staff and network managers in the target countries. Key audiences for the programme are staff in Ministries of Education, Health, Science and Technology, and Communications and Higher Education Authorities, Universities and Telekom Operators.
The idea of the programme came because some individuals saw that some southern Asian countries have very expensive Internet connection and still more, poor which definitely lead to leading to academic isolation, exclusion from global research and low quality of teaching. Connectivity is improving with the growing availability of submarine fiber cables, and the in-country deployment of fiber networks. The European Commission and the US National Science Foundation are offering to link South Asian countries’ National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) to GÉANT and Internet2.
This programme is funded by the multi-donor South-South Experience Exchange Trust Fund (SEETF) which is administered by the World Bank. The donor countries include Mexico, China, Denmark, UK and India.
Source UBUTNUNET April Newsletter http://www.ubuntunet.net/april2010#practices
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